San Francisco County Biographies
HENRY H. DAVIS
Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Attorney and counselor at law, was born in Exin, Germany, in the
latter half of the fifties, and comes of that stalwart stock which has given
force and direction to the civilization of these later centuries. Arriving in
New York while the subject of this sketch was yet a child, after a brief stay
his father pushed on to California, leaving his family to follow him in due time
if he found matters to his liking in that far-off State.
Evidently they were so, for after a year's residents here he concluded it was a
good enough place to stay, and he proceeded to make a home, to which they came
in 1868. Henry was immediately sent to the public school, and by dint of
diligent application, passed with distinction through all the various classes of
the primary and grammar grades. Having prepared for a collegiate course of
study he was sent to the State University, took the classical course in that
institution and graduated with honors in 1876.
Although scarcely out of his teens, by unremitting study and tireless industry
he had possessed himself of a liberal education. He improved a year of
relaxation by a trip to Europe, visiting his native Germany, Russia, England and
various countries and places of note in the Old World. Returning to California
and enriched by observation and the experiences of extensive travel, he entered
on a course of law study at the Hastings College of Law of the State University.
As his natural inclination lay in the direction of his studies, his progress
was both rapid and thorough, so that on graduating in 1882 he was immediately
admitted to practice. Without wealth or family or political influence, he had
to rely on his unaided individual exertions to obtain success and standing in
his profession. Nonetheless, the energy and native capacity which has carried
him through successfully thus far, still stood him in good stead, and he had
gradually worked up to a lucrative and enviable practice, his operations being
mostly in the Superior and Supreme Courts, and his clients of the solid and
respectable character which insures safe and substantial remuneration. He
occupies several offices in the building No. 420 California street, San
Francisco, and has one of the largest law libraries in the State; owns an
attractive and elegant residence on California street, besides a lot of other
valuable real estate in different parts of the city, -- all the result of his
own efforts.
Mr. Davis is an active member of numerous fraternal and benevolent associations,
and as he unites to great natural intelligence, genial manners and great
affability, his counsel and assistance are in great request in these
organizations. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 260, F. & A. M.,
Chancellor Commander of Laurel Lodge, No. 4, K. O. P., has been three times
elected Exalted Ruler of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 6, of the B. and P. Order of
Elks, Past Chief Ranger of Court Robin Hood, No. 3951, A. O. F. of A. M., member
of Cremieux Lodge, No. 325, I. O. B. B., member of Division No. 2, Uniform Rank
K. of P., member of the Independent Order of Old Friends, etc. Of political
organizations he is a member of the famous Bear Club, and though always a warm
partisan and staunch supporter of his party and its principles, never, in the
sense of being an office-seeker -- a politician. Mr. Davis has many warm
friends who rejoice in his success, and who wish him abundant prosperity and
happiness in the future.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco" (and Its Cities And Their Suburbs) Vol 1.
Lewis Publishing Company 1892. Page 455.